Why are the coils 6v and not 12v

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Pre Coil Ignition !

Possable to build a ' all new ' one now too. Dunno how youd go for a low time Merlin . Were a lot of Ex Skakelton Zero Timed Griffons going for scrap , when the decomisioned them .

More to the Point , say I was in Europe , with an interstate . Id like to hold my own with traffic , rather than being road kill . Or stopping on the glockner passs or whatever at 2 am .
Particularly in winter .
My view of ' Classic Vehicals ' is as ' everyday transport ' . Hence youd need a few , in and out of overhaul. Perhaps .

Nice to see well built restorations , that go properly . Even if they are cosseted and used mainly for liesure , Expected to last a lifetime. And rightly so too .
Though its usually ' faults ' or missuse that'd see ' issues ' arriseing . Id think for ' Interstate ' or ' Continental ' use , minor updateing & uprateing isnt uncalled for .
( Ive thought for years , if a vehical dosnt goes as well , or better , than new, theres something wrong with it . Since the youth = for a ' philosophical ' outlook . )

As far as I see it , the Lucas Points assemblies , advance mechanisms , and other ratshit componentry , along with slipshod mechanics and maintance , were the primary
reasons that saw the demise of the industry in the 70s. Other than the press & government . I believe liberal alcohol preferances prevented perception of the dangers .

How many bikes wouldve stopped , with decent electronic ignition , if fitted. At that time ( say 1970 on )SSome of the Lucas stuff was quite good ,
INSIDE a car - switchgear . But weatherproofing was inadequate , fitted outdoors to a ' all wreather ' motorcycle . Which IS a prerequisettefor ' Transport '.

' The Press " raved about the marvelous conveniance of the Jap. Stuff . and it wonderfull electrics . That Worked . There was little else marvelous about theier road bikes .
Theres a ' Enthusiast Base ' for some .
I even saw the three wise men emerge from a mighty dark thundercloud , christmass eve , in semi cyclonic conditions . on CB 90 ( or is it 110 ) Postie Bikes .

But ' Well Fitted ' British stuff , would usually run rings around them .
Despite British Bike Riders in N.Z. in the later 70s needing to be theier own mechanics.
Ducati Owners virtually needed a engineering degree .
And Honda owners wearing a smugg grin of self delusion ,

Awfull lot of motorcycles got wrecked . One way and another .Happening here in Australia with the scrap drives & wreckers devouring highly usable ' native ' vehicals ,
and the roads full of cheap overpriced imported junk . Need laws about ' destroying the national automotive heritage , or thertell be little left , and maybe none on the road.

The Jetsons willve won . !

We will have to hope the Indians do BULLETPROOF AFFORDABLE Nortons . Say modern day 88s & 99s , with SS options .The top of the line ' King of the Road ' might be pricier .

.
 
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...And no, I don't intend to convert any of my bikes to magneto ignition either.
 
A friend of mine built his own Spitfire a few years ago after being given a rivet for his birthday as a laugh. He decided the last laugh would be on him and over a period of just a few years managed to acquire enough bits and pieces, and more importantly the licenced people to build it.
now of course he can’t fly it, no licence, and it’s a single seater.
last I heard he’s building a 2 seater.
btw, how much did it all cost? Around £600,000 about 6/7 years ago.

 
I use wasted spark with a Boyer. My coil is double ended 12 volt off a Honda four. If you wire two 6 volt coils in series that is two more points where you have terminals which can come loose. And if you have an internal problem with one coil, how do you know which one ? If a double-ended coil fails, it just drops dead - it does not lead you on a goose-chase.

Well...maybe...I use a double ended 12V coil and carry a spare!

Doesn't answer the OPs question though does it?
 
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I don't know whether the OP runs wasted spark or two triggers. If the two 6v coils are triggered separately in a 12 volt system, there are probably ballast resistors involved.
 
If the standard Commando ran two 12 volt coils instead of two 6 volt with balance resistors, the power usage would probably be too high and the alternator might not keep up with the demand at night when the lights are on
 
Well...maybe...I use a doube ended 12V coil and carry a spare!

Doesn't answer the OPs question though does it?
Plenty of interesting sneers coming in, I’m pleased my innocent question has been so well remarked on.
 
I don't know whether the OP runs wasted spark or two triggers. If the two 6v coils are triggered separately in a 12 volt system, there are probably ballast resistors involved.
It was in the first line of my initial post - totally stock points system
 
If the standard Commando ran two 12 volt coils instead of two 6 volt with balance resistors, the power usage would probably be too high and the alternator might not keep up with the demand at night when the lights are on
I’m not convinced it can keep,up with the demand of the indicators sometimes ;)
 
If the standard Commando ran two 12 volt coils instead of two 6 volt with balance resistors, the power usage would probably be too high and the alternator might not keep up with the demand at night when the lights are on

There's only one ballast resistor.

The pre-71 Commando did have two 12V coils and no ballast resistor.
 
The same thing happened in the car world when they improved their electrics from 6 to 12 volt.
A 12 volt battery wil become drained when put under a starter motor, down to 9 to 10 volts, and below, a 6 volt coil will happily work up to 9 to 10volts, but the ballast resistor was fitted to protect it from a full 12 volts which would damage it.
 
I once had a Volkswagen which had 6 volt electrics. The headlight beams used to droop. My brother-in -law had similar in New Guinea. Got drunk one night with his mate and went looking for girls. They arrived in a village a bit out of Port Moresby and climbed out of the V-dub, yelling 'bring out your women'. In the darkness of the headlights they could see shadows moving. Next thing they were trying to shove each other into the car. There are cannibals on that island.
Later they went to the Mount Hagen sing-sing . They danced along with the natives, then fell into a storm water drain The natives started laughing and as a result ended up having a big riot in which some got speared.
If you want an adventure, go there - it probably has not changed.
 
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